What does the name Norge actually mean?
A beloved child goes by many names — so goes a Norwegian expression. Let us explore the meaning of the country Norway’s name.
The northern route
The most common interpretations of the name Norge are:
the land to the north,
the northern route, or
the route leading north.
Looking at Norway on a map, with its long, northward coastline, these meanings make a lot of sense. However, according to linguists, there may also be a second and a third interpretation.
Narrow inlet
In 1847, the student Niels Halvorsen Trønnes claimed that the name Norge is based on the Old Norse word nór, which in this context means a narrow inlet or channel.